Bicyclist&#39;s strength-testing machine.



73. MEASURING & TESTING;

PATBNTED DEC. 15, 1903.

R. W. BLAISDELL.

BICYGLISTS STRENGTH TESTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB 26. 1903.

NO MODEL.

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HALF TO HEZEKIAH O. WOODBURY, OF BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS.

BICYCLISTS STRENGTH-TESTING MACHINE.

SPIE.OIFICA'JIION forming part of Letters Patent No. 747,294, dated December 15, 1903.

- Application filed February 26, 1903. Serial No. 145.138. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it'known that I, ROBERT acaw,- a citi ze'n of the United States,and a resident of Beverly, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts,haveinvented certain newand useful Improvements in Bicyclists Strength- Testing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvementsin bicyclists strength testing machines for the purpose of testing and indicating the strength of a person applying leg-power to pedals on a rotary shaft operated in a manner similar to that of riding a bicycle, and it is carri d out as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, where Figure l is a side elevation of my improved strength testing machine, partly shown in section; and Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same.

Similar letters refer to similar parts whereever they occur on the difierent parts of the drawings.

In the drawings, A represents a suitable fixed stationary frame or standard, preferably made of metal and provided at one end with a vertically adjustable bicycle saddle B of any well-known size or pattern. Any

suitable mechanism may be used for adjusting the position of said saddle as may be desired without departing from the essence of my invention. Below said saddle is journaled in the frame A the pedal-shaft O, to the ends of which are secured cranks D D, provided with pedals d d in a manner similar to those employed on a bicycle. To said shaft is secured an eccentric-disk E. The said eccentric-disk is surrounded by a strap F, to which is attached a rodf, the free end of which is pivotally connected to a piston g, movable in an air-pump cylinder G, which is closed in one end, as shown at G in Fig. 1. Such closed end of the pumpecylinder is connected by means of a pipe H to aclosed tank or airchamber I, as shown. l

K is an air-inlet valve at -or near the closed end of the pump-cylinder, said valve being arranged, constructed, and seated in any suitable manner, so as to cause ingress of air to the pump back of its piston when the latter moves in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 1, and adapted to be automatically closed to prevent the air within said pump-cylinder from escaping through the said valve when the piston isfmoved in the opposite direction.

In the closed end of the cylinder G is arranged a self-'closingcheck-valve L, which allows the air from the pump-cylinder G to be forced through the pipe E. into the tank I whenever thej-pistony is moved in a direction opposite to that shown by arrow in Fig. 1 and caused to close against its seat when the piston g moves in the direction of said arrow.

To the tank I is connected a pressure gage M of any wellknown form or construction by means of a pipe M, upon which is arranged a suitable escape-valve or cock m, for a purpose as will hereinafter be described.

To the upper portion of the frame A in front of the saddle B is secured an adjustable handle bar N, provided with a pair of handles n n, like those used on a bicycle, as shown in the drawings. i

The operation of this my improved bicyclists st. ength-testing machine is as follows: The person while seated on the saddleB and grasping the handles 02 n on thehandle-bar N places his feet on the pedals d d and imparts a rotary motion to the shaft 0, as-is common in bicycle propulsion. During such rotation of the said shafta reciprocating friction is imparted to the piston g, causing the air to be gradually compressed in the tank I, accord ing to the-strength and power exerted by the rider, which compression will be shown on the pressure gage M. After a test has been made by one person the compressed air is allowed to escape from the tank I by opening the cock m, connected to said tank, after which the said cock is closed, when the apparatus is ready for use by another person, and so on.

As shown, the base A is a stationary one and is made hollow to contain and protect the aircompressor and the pedal-shaft and the connections to said air compressor. By arranging the air-compressor, the pedal-shaft, and the connections to said air compressor within the stationary hollow base the parts are protected from injury and are also protected against the injurious effects of dust and the like.

BEST AVAlLABLE COP:

Having thus fully described the nature, construction, and operation of my invention, I desire to secure by Letters Patent and claim- 5 In a bicyclists wheelless strengthtesting machine, the combination with a hollow stationary base A,of a pump-cylinder Garranged within said hollow base, a seat secured to the latter, a pedal-shaft journaled in said base m and provided with pedals, an eccentric on said pedal shaft for actuating the pump piston, an air-chamber connected to said pump-cylinder and a pressure-gage connected tosai'd air-chamber, substantially as described.

In testimonywhereof I-have affixedmysig- I5 nature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERTNV. BLAISDELL.

' Witnesses:

ALBAN ANDREN,

E. E. TORREY. 

